FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109  
110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>  
if they heard about you to-day sometime." Mr. Gwinne looked through the window at the visible wedge of Hillsboro, wavy low hills and winding streets; looked with long and lingering interest, and added irrelevantly: "I knew your father." * * * * * Late that afternoon a heavy knock came at the outer door of the jail. Gwinne hustled his prisoner into a cell and answered the call. He was greeted at the door by Aloys Preisser, the assayer, a gay-hearted old Bavarian--the same for whom, in his youth, Preisser Hill was named--and by Hobby Lull. Hobby's face was haggard and drawn; there were dark circles under his eyes. "We want to settle a bet," announced Hobby, "and we're leaving it to you. I say that Robin Hood knocked out the Proud Sheriff of Nottingham, and Preisser claims it was a draw. How about it?" "Hood got the decision on points," said Gwinne soberly. "There! What did I tell you, you old hunk of Limburger?" Hobby Lull laid hands delicately upon his adversary's short gray beard and tugged it with deferential gentleness. The unresisting head wagged sedately to and fro. "Take that, you old bug hunter!" said Hobby, and stood back, waiting. The assayer became statuesque. "You see, Mister Deputy? He has assauldt gommitted, and you a witness are. With abusive language!" "The wienerwurst is yet to come," observed Lull, in a voice sepulchral and ominous. "With threats also, and insults--abandoned ruffian! Desperate! Catiline! Officer--do your duty! I make demand of you. Dake dot mon into gustody!" Preisser's eyes were dancing as he fought down a grin. Mr. Gwinne regarded the impassioned disputants with grave eyes. "You are under arrest, Mr. Lull," he said with somber official severity. "Can you give bail?" "Not one red cent." "Come in, then." Lull followed through the door. Turning, he smiled back at the little assayer. Preisser winked. "I'll have to lock you up, you know," said Gwinne. "District attorney particularly desired that no one should hold communication with Dines, over yonder." He locked Lull in a cell; forgetfully leaving the key in the lock. "Don't try to shout across to Dines, now," he warned. "I'll hear you. Well, I'll be meanderin' along to the kitchen and starting supper." Hobby reached through the bars and turned the key. He went over to Johnny's cell. "Well, Dines, how goes it? You don't look much downhearted." "I'm not," said John
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109  
110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>  



Top keywords:

Preisser

 

Gwinne

 
assayer
 

leaving

 
looked
 

gustody

 

dancing

 

demand

 

fought

 

disputants


arrest

 
somber
 

severity

 

impassioned

 
official
 
Johnny
 
regarded
 

Desperate

 

wienerwurst

 
witness

downhearted
 

abusive

 

language

 

observed

 
ruffian
 
Catiline
 

abandoned

 

insults

 

sepulchral

 

ominous


threats
 

Officer

 

desired

 

meanderin

 

District

 

attorney

 

communication

 

forgetfully

 

locked

 
warned

yonder

 
gommitted
 
turned
 

Turning

 

smiled

 
kitchen
 

starting

 
reached
 

supper

 
winked